Dry separator



F. M. SMITH.y DRY SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1B. 1919.

Patented July 13, 1920.

LBGIO..

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

NIJN

F. M. SMITH.

DRY SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I8, I9I9.

1,346,651 O.. Patented July 13, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

F. M. SMITH.

DRY SEPARATOH.

APPLICATION F|LEDJUNE1.1919.

Patented July 13, 1920..

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

M wwf@ UNITED STATES FRANK M. SMITH, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PATENT OFFICE.

DRY SEPARATOR.

To all whom t may concern.'

izen of the United States, residing in Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dry Separators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relatesto that class of dry concentrators or separators employing air currentsl to effect the desired results, and aims to improve the structure and capabilities or functions of such types of appliances. A. further and more specic object or purpose of this invention is the provision of an apparatus of this kind which will perform a selective or fractional separation of material into parts of different character or quality, delivering them separately or independently. Such sorting, grading, or classifying of the material, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, is accomplished by causing the dust-laden air to pass through a series of receptacles in sequence and at different levels, whereby the heavier particles will be delivered in thelower container, the somewhat lighter in the next higher receptacle, and the still lighter in another and so on. These receptacles are desirably in the form of vibrated troughs or conveyers, whereby their contents may be continuously discharged in approved fashion. The device includes also a vibrated screen over which the material to be treated passes in a thin layer of substantially uniform depth or thickness and above this is an independently vibrated suctionchamber equipped with such series of troughs.

The accomplishment of these and other desirable objects and purposes may be brought about by a variety of embodiments of the invention, but in order that those skilled in this art may have a full and complete understanding of the invention in its general as well as specific aspect l have illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and throughout the various views of which like reference characters refer to the same parts, a preferred embodiment of the invention and have described the same indetail below.

ln these drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal, vertical section through the appliance;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, broken, plan view of one of the vibrated suction-chambers and its groups of associated superposed troughs;

specification of Letters raient. Patented Jun-13, 1920,

1919. Serial N0. 305,097.

Fig. 3- is a transverse, vertical section through the central portion of the appliance shown in Fig. 2 on line 3 3 of such figure;

Fig. t is 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a similar cross-section on line 5 5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a detail Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, enlarged, transverse section through the trough-equipped air-trunk or suction-chamber showing on a magnified scale the detailed construction of the troughs and ltheir associated members.

The appliance includes a suitable housing 10 of any convenient form (Fig. l) inclosing a plurality of vibratory screens 11, 11, above one another and independently vibrated suction-chambers or air-trunks 12, 12, one for each screen, the number of each varying possibly in different installations to meet the needs of the particular service. Preferably a plurality of screens are used inclined in opposite directions whereby the material from each may pass to the next and so on, each screen having its own separate suction-chamber or air-trunk equipped with means for receiving the sorted or separated material carried upwardly to it by the air currents. ln the present instance only two screens and two associated air-chambers are shown, but the number employed is not of the essence of the invention.

rlhe upper screen 11 downwardly sloping to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, is mounted in the usual manner in a rectangular frame 13 open at the top and closed below by a plate of wood-veneer 14 or other suitable material. rlhis skeleton frame or boX is carried on adjustable rock-arms 15, 15 of usual construction rockingly supported or fulcrumed on the side-walls of the housing, and the frame and its screen or foraminous member are rapidly vibrated by a rod 16 having a yielding connection 17 therewith, the rod being quickly reciprocated by a crank or eccentric shaft, not shown, but located at the right-hand endof the machine.

This screen at its upper end has a distributing plate 18 from which the reduced or groundmaterial to be separated passes to section on line 6-6 of a vertical cross-section on line the screen proper of relatively small mesh.

it from below, thus securing a uniform distribution of the air through the material by reason of the evenly arranged meshes of the screen. In addition the screens act as conveyers to spread out and advance the material in thin layers, the mesh of the screen, of course, being chosen to suit the classification or size of material being handled. When a plurality of such screens are employed as illustrated over which the material is fed one after the other the mesh of the screens may be the same or different as circumstances dictate.

Both the material which is discharged from the lower end of the upper screen and that which has sifted through such reticulated member and has been fed down on the vibrated, inclined, lower floor 14 are brought together and delivered through flexible tubes 19, depending from the frame as shown, through the distribution chambers of the lower suction-chamber member to the head end of the screen positioned below and inclined in the opposite direction from that of the upper screen.

To maintain the holes or perforations in each of the foraminous screens from becoming clogged, a brush l20 acting on its under surface is provided in the usual way, the brush by suitable means, not illustrated, traveling slowly transversely of the screen and brushing or wipingiits under surface.

The corresponding suction chamber or air-trunk 12 for each screen is located the proper distance above its screen to perform the functions hereinafter detailed, and, like the screen, is mounted on rocker-arms or hangers 21, 21 and vibrated by a rod 22 connected thereto at 23 and operated by the same eccentric shaft (not shown) which actuates the corresponding screen 11.

Inasmuch as the two screens and the two air-trunks are practically alike in structure although differently positioned or arranged a description of one of each will be sufficient for an understanding of the entire apparatus.

At its upper end each of these air-trunk members 12 has an end wall 24, a spaced inner parallel wall 25, a similar intermediate wall 26, and cross-walls 27, 27 disposed lengthwise the air-trunlras a whole but, in

conjunction with wall 26, 4dividing the transverse chamber defined by walls 24, 25 into six compartments 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33.

The wall' 26 between each pair of the chambers 28 and 29 and 32 and 33 has a single central port or aperture 34 establishing communication between the two compartments, and, in order that the material in chambers 28 and 32 may be readily fed through the openings into their companion chambers, the floor or bottom wall of each of the former is composed of oppositely-in- Laaaeio clined walls 35 and 36 sloping lengthwise the chamber and converging toward the opening and an intermediate wall 37 sloping transversely of lthe chamber toward the opening, whereby such floor walls form a sort of hopper directing the material through the aperture into the other chamber from which it is delivered to the screen beneath through holes 38 in the fioor associated with fabric or other flexible tubes or pipes 39 through which the material passes, and whose lower ends rest on the screen thus acting as an air seal and preventing air currents through such tubes which might other.- wise interfere with the'I proper suction action through the screen.

Chamber 30 has a floor 40 inclined transversely thereof and directing its material to openings 41, 41 in wall 26 connecting with the compartment 31 from which it is discharged through opening 38 in its floor to delivery tubes 39.

rlf'hese various distribution chambers 28, 3() and 32 of the upper air-trunk member 12 receive the ground or reduced ore or other material -to be separated from an outside hopper 42 at the top of casing 10 through flexible or yieldable tubes or pipes 43. On the other' hand, the corresponding compartments of the lower suction-chamber member 12 receive their material from the screen above through the similar tubes or lpipes 19, the two screens thus being connected and operating in series.

In order to obtain the fractional or classi- 100 fied separation of the material carried upwardly from either screen by the air currents drawn through it, that is, divided into parts of different or graded qualities or specific gravities, each suction chamber is 105 equipped with three rows'or groups of inclined troughs 45, 46 and 47 positioned at different levels, and the air charged with the cloud of material which it lifts is caused to traverse these three series of receptacles in 110 succession, each group receiving or having deposited in it its particular quality or grade of material, the lower group receiving the heavier grade, the others relatively lighter classes.

Along each of itsl longitudinal edges, each trough has a marginal or border bar 48 and adjacent to it is spaced bar 49 (Fig. 7) (mounted on the partition walls described below) providing between them a length- 120 wise slot 50, the lower part of which by reason of the cross-'sectional shape of bar 49, that is, because of a slight enlargement or lateral projection on one side, is directed outwardly against the adjacent inner sur- 125 face of the trough, whereby to' arrest to .some extent the momentum or velocity of the particles of material carried along by the a1r current and to assist in the deposit of the proper portions of them in the troughs, 1307.

l passages 78 and 79.

the lighter articles passing on out of the troughs wit the air current.

These troughs or channel members are supported and maintained in proper position by sectional partition walls 51, 51 (Fig. l). Each of these walls comprises a lower part 52 (Fig. 7) straight along its lower end and shaped along its upper edge to it around the outside of the troughs and within curved air-current dellectors or directors 53 arrangedA between the troughs to direct the ascending air currents downwardly into slots 50 of the itroughs. Each of the intermediate partition-wall sections 54, 54 is shaped along its lower edge to receive the delectors 53, which are permanently fastened thereto, and bars 49 secured thereto, and is shaped along its top edge to receive the troughs and to project up into and snugly fit the inner surfaces of the arch deiectors 53. The top section 55 is like the others except that its upper edge is straight. Thus these various superposed sections with `their attached deflectors and the separate troughs may be put in place from above one above the other in nested relation as illustrated and described.

The middle division wall 51 has an upward extension 56 (Fig. 1) dividing the airchamber or 'suction-compartment into two separate portions 57 and 58, and each of these is in connection with a suction fan (not shown) by its own independent flue 59 and 60 respectively, each flue being equipped with a damper, shutter or other adjustable means 61, 62 respectively whereby the degree of suction in the chamber may be regulated. Ordinarily a slightly greater suction would be maintained in one chamber than the other to compensate for the change in character or size of the material as it travels down the related vibrating screen.

A vertical passage is formed by a wall 73 disposed crosswise the air-trunk structure as a whole, and two spaced walls 74, 75 between walls 73 and 66.

As is shown in Fig. 2 wall 73 extends beyond walls 74' and 7 5 and its ends are connected to end-wall 66 by other walls 7 6 and 77, thus providing two 'upright passages 78 and 79 on opposite sides of fiue 70. Below the level of the middle rod of troughs 46 another floor or bottom wall is provided comprising two oppositely inclined portions 8O and 81 leading to apertures 82 and 83 respectively in wall 73 communicating with Between such parts 82 and 83 the floor at 84 is inclined toward both of them. As a consequence of this construction thesorted or graded material delivered from the middle group of vibrating troughs is directed to and discharged throughl ports 82 and 83 and passages 78 and 79 throughr holes 85 and 86 in the bottom wall in connection withv iexible discharge tubes or pipes 87 and 88.

In turn the Hoor 67 is y'shaped on its top surface to slope toward holes 89 and 90 associated with discharge tubes 91 and 92.

It will be easily understood therefore that all the material of the same grade from troughs 47 is delivered through the single central tube or conduit` 72, all from the intermediate row of troughs 46 is discharged through the two tubes 87 and 88 and all from the lower group of troughs 45 is conducted away by the pair of tubes 91 and 92.

The operation of the appliance occurs practically as follows:

The crushed, ground, or comminuted material to be treated, ore, for instance, is fed from the hopper 42 through the tubes 43 to the distribution chambers in the contiguous end portion of the upper vibrating air-trunk member from whence it descends through the conduits 39 to the upper end of the independently vibrated screen 11 down which it travels and on which it is jarred, jolted or agitated in the usual manner. Such screen is not employed as a sieve for sifting purposes, but it is used as a means 011 which the material is spread out in a thin layer and through which the air may readily pass in a substantially-uniform manner to take up and carry along with it the lighter particles.

As will be readily understood, the suction lifts or raises the lighter or smaller pieces` or particles in the form of a cloud which traverses the plurality of rows of troughs at diierent levels in succession, the heavier matter being deposited in the lower row, the next lighter in the middle row, the still lighter in the top row, and some passes on with the air through tubes 59 and 60 the suction in which is capable of regulation or adjustment by manipulation of the dampers or shutters 61 and 62. By these means a selective or fractional dry separation or concentration is easily effected and the material thus delivered into the inclined troughs, by reason of their rapid reciprocations, is fed downwardly to the discharge end of the apparatus where the several grades, qualities or kinds oi material are separately delivered through tubes 72, 87 and 88, and 91 and 92. The material remaining on the screen when it reaches its 4lower end and that which has sited through such reticulated or foraminous member, or either alone if preferred, is fed down through the fabric or other flexible tubes 19 to the next lower oppositely-inclined screen where the same operation is repeated and the. separated material led oil' as in the other case. That portion of the material not delivered to the troughs of such lower section of the apmay be reground and run through the machine again. As many screens, each With its own separate vibrating air-trunk, may be used in succession as seems desirable, and the invention is in no Way limited to the number shown and described.

By independently vibrating the air-trunk and its conveying troughs and'the reticulated screen and having them separately adjustable, their operation may be so regulated and adjusted as to secure the best results, it being also borne in mind that the feeding of the material to and its distribution on the screen is influenced by the movement of the allied air-trunk member equipped With the distribution chambers.

This invention being susceptible, as indicated above, of a variety of embodiments it is to be understood that it is not limited and restricted in anyvvay to the precise and exact details of construction herein set forth and consequently many minor changes may be made in such apparatus Without departure from the heart and essence of the invention and Without the sacrifice of any of its substantial benefits and advantages.

I claim:

l. In a separator of the character described, the combination of a oraminous support for the material to be treated, an air-trunk above said support, means to subject said air-trunk to suction, a receptacle in said air-trunk adapted to receive material deposited therein by the air, and means to vibrate said air-trunk and receptacle independently of said support, substantially as described.

2. In a separator of the character described, the combination of a foraminous support for the material to be treated, an air-trunk above said support, means to subject said air-trunk to suction, a conveyer in said air-trunk adapted to receive material deposited therein by the air, and means to v1- brate said air-trunk and conveyer independently of said support, substantially as described.

3. In a separator of the character described, the combination of a foraminous support for the material to be treated, means to vibrate said support, an air-trunk above said support, means to Subj ect said air-trunk to suction, a plurality of inclined conveyers at different levels in said air-trunk adapted to. receive material deposited therein byA the air, means to cause the laden air to traverse said conveyers of different levels in sequence, and means to vibrate said air-trunk and conveyers independently of said support, substantially as described.

4. In a separator of the character described, the combination -of a foraminous support for the material to be treated, an airtrunk above said support, means to subject said air-trunk to suction, a plurality of receptacles at different levels in said airtrunk adapted to receive material of dierent grades deposited therein by the air, means to cause the laden air to traverse said receptacles of different levels in sequence, and means to vibrate said air-trunk and receptacles independently of said support, substantially as described.

5. In a separator of the character described, the combination of `a vibratory screen on Which the material to be treated travels, means to vibrate said screen, an airtrunk above said screen, means to subject said air-trunk to suction, a receptacle in said air-trunk adapted to receive the separated material deposited therein by the air, and means to vibrate said air-trunk and receptacle substantially as described.

6. In a separator of the character described, the combination of a vibratory screen on v'vhich the material to be treated travels, means to vibrate said screen, an airtrunk above said screen, means to subject said air-trunk to suction,- a plurality of receptacles at different levels in said air-trunk adapted to receive the separated material of different qualities, and means to vibrate said air-trunk and receptacles, substantially as described.

7. In a separator of the character described, the combination of a vibratory screen on which the material to be treated travels, means to vibrate said screen, an'airtrunk above said screen, means to subject said air-trunk to suction, a plurality of receptacles at different levels in said air-trunk adapted to receive the separated material of diderent qualities, and means to vibrate said air-trunk and receptacles separately from said screen, substantially as described.

8. In a separator of the character described, the combination of a vibratory screen on Which the material to be treated travels, means to vibrate said screen, an airtrunk above said screen, means to subject said air-trunk to suction, a pluralit of receptacles at different levels in said air-trunk adapted to receive the separated material of different qualities, means to vibrate said airtrunk and troughs and means to cause the air passing through the screen to traverse said receptacles in sequence, substantially as described.

9. In a separator of the character described, the combination of a vibratory screen on which the material to be treated travels, means to vibrate saidv screen, an ailtrunk above said screen, means to vibrate said air-trunk separately from said screen, means to subject said air-trunk to suction, a plurality of receptacles at dierent levels in said air-trunk adapted to receive the separate material of different qualities, and means to cause the air passing through the screen to traverse said receptacles in sequence, substantially as described.

l0. ln a separator of the character described, the combination of a vibratory screen on which the material to be treated travels, means to vibrate said screen, an airtrunk above said screen, means to subject said air-trunk to suction, a plurality of inclined troughs at diii'erent levels in said airtrunk adapted to receive the separated material of different qualities, means to vibrate said air-trunk and receptacle and means to separately deliver the material of dilferent qualities from said troughs, substantially as described.

l1. 1n a separator of the character described, the combination of a vibratory screen on which the material to be treated travels, means to vibrate said screen, an airtrunk above said screen, means to vibrate said air-trunk separately from said screen, means to subject said air-trunk to suction, a plurality of inclined troughs at different levels in said air-trunk adapted to receive the separated material of different qualities, means to cause the air passing through the screen to traverse said troughs in sequence, and means to separately deliver the material of different qualities from said troughs. substantially as described.

12. 1n a separator of the character described, the combination of a vibratory screen on which the material to be treated travels, means to vibrate said screen, an airtrunk above said screen, means to subject said air-trunk to suction, a plurality of receptacles at dierent levels in the air-trunk adapted to receive the separated material of different qualities, means to vibrate said air-trunk and receptacles independently of said screen, and means to cause the air passing through said screen to traverse said receptacles in sequence and to direct such laden air downwardly into said receptacles in such y passage thereof, substantially as described.

13. 1n a separator of the character described, the combination of a vibratory screen on which thenaterial to be treated travels, means to vibrate said screen, an airtrunk above said screen, means to independently vibrate said air-trunk, means to subject said air-trunk to suction, a plurality of inclined troughs at different levels in said air trunk adapted to receive the separated material of different qualities, means to cause the air passing through the screen to traverse said receptacles in sequence and to direct such air downwardly into said troughs in such passage thereof, and means to separatel deliver the material of diferent qualities om said troughs, substantially as described.

14. 1n a separator of the character described, the combination of a vibratory screen on which the material to be treated travels, means to vibrate said screen, an air-trunk above said screen, means to vibrate said airtrunk independently of said screen, means to subject said air-trunk to suction, a plurality of groups of receptacles at different levels in said air-trunk adapted to receive the separated material of different qualities, means to'cause the air passing through said screen to traverse said groups of receptacles in sequence and to direct such air downwardly into said receptacles in such passage thereof, and means to collectively deliver the material deposited in the receptacles of each group substantially as described.

l5. ln a separator of the character de scribed, the combination of a conveyerV for the material to be treated, an air-trunk above said conveyer divided into compartments, one or more receptacles in said compartments to receive the separated material, means to vibrate said air-trunk and its one or more receptacles, and means to subject said compartments to different degrees of suction, substantially as described.

16. ln a separator of the character described, the combination of a vibratory screen on which the material to be treatedtravels, means to vibrate said screen, an air-trunk above said screen divided into compartments,

receptacles at different levels in said compartments, means to vibrate said air-trunk and its recptacles, and means to subject said compartments to different degrees of suction, substantially as described.

17. 1n a separator of the character described, the combination of a foraminous support for the material to be treated, an air-trunk above said support, means to subject said air-trunk to suction, a plurality of spaced troughs in said air-trunk disposed 1n the same general direction, deiiectors between said troughs adapted to direct the ascending laden air `downwardly into said troughs to facilitate the deposit of theJ conveyed material therein, and means to vibrate said air-trunk and troughs, substantially as described.

18. 1n a separator of the character described, the combination of a foraminous support for the material to be treated, an air-trunk above said support, means to subject said air-trunk to suction, a plurality of spaced receptacles in said air-trunk, means to direct the laden air ascending between said receptacles downwardly into the saine and outwardly against their walls to facilitate the deposit of the conveyed material therein, and means to vibrate said air-trunk and receptacles, substantially as described.

19. 1n a separator of the character de scribed, the combination of a vibratory screen on which the material to be treated travels,

means to vibrate said screen, an air-trunk above said screen, means to subJect sald alrtrunk to suction, means to vibrate said airtrunk independently of said screen, a plurality of troughs at different levels in said air-trunk, and means to cause the ascending laden air to traverse said troughs in sequence and to direct such air downwardly into the troughs and outwardly against their side walls, substantially as described.

20. ln a separator of the character described, the combination of a foraminous r tact with said support to act as an air-seal,

substantially asdescribed. A

' FRANK M. SM'lH. 

